Light Festival Commission - St Andrew's Quayside

Gravesham Light Festival 2027 – GALACTIC GLOW

Artist Commission Brief: St Andrew’s Quayside

We are seeking proposals from artists, designers, creative collectives and practitioners to create a sculptural light-based artwork(s) for Galactic Glow, our 2027 Light Festival. The commission should create a visually striking display on St Andrew’s Quayside, it will need to be bold, ambitious and captivate audiences through light, sculpture and artistic storytelling. We want to spark wonder and create unforgettable memories.

Theme: Galactic Glow

The installation must respond clearly to the Galactic Glow theme. Proposals may explore, but not limited to - constellations, imagined planets, cosmic landscapes, space travel, meteor showers, star maps, science fiction, community stories written in the stars, or the sense of wonder created by looking up at the night sky. Due to the serene and immersive nature of this location, we are particularly interested in installations that complement the atmosphere of the space. As such, we would prefer proposals that do not rely on high-volume sound or amplified audio as a primary element of the experience.

Location

The installation will be located on the grass area of St Andrew’s Quayside.

Who Can Apply

Artists, designers, makers, creative collectives or community arts organisations with experience of public-facing work.

Artwork Requirements

The installation must glow, illuminate, reflect, fluoresce or otherwise use light as a central visual feature.

The artwork must have a clear connection to the theme.

The work should be suitable for outdoor display as part of a public light festival and be safe, robust and accessible for audiences of different ages.

Materials and power use should be considered carefully, with sustainable and reusable approaches encouraged. Long distance power runs are not available in this location.

Please also carefully consider the grass location and the possibility that at this time of year it may be muddy and/or wet. Will matting or something similar be required to safely access the artwork?

Selection Criteria

A selection panel will review submissions and may invite a shortlist to take part in an on-line interview to answer any questions that may arise from the panel. All proposals will be presented as anonymous to the panel who will use the following criteria to score the work:

·       Artistic quality: strength, originality and visual impact of the proposed idea.

·       Theme response: clear and imaginative connection to Galactic Glow.

·       Public experience: accessibility, audience appeal and suitability for a light festival setting.

·       Feasibility: realistic budget, timeline, technical approach, safety considerations and ability to deliver.

·       Sustainability: responsible use of materials, energy and potential for reuse or future presentation.

Artist obligations

Artists are expected to be on site for the duration of the festival and always supervise the installation. All costs for the piece including materials, install and de-install must be included in the budget along with security considerations. Access for installation will be on Friday 29 January, de-installation must take place on Saturday 30 January after 8.30pm. Access outside of these dates will be subject to further discussions.

The total fee is up to £2,500

The total available commission is inclusive of artist fee, materials, travel, preparation time, and documentation costs. Artists should provide a realistic outline of how they would allocate the budget in relation to the scale of the proposed activity.

How to apply:
Artists should submit the following by email to: artsandculture@gravesham.gov.uk paying close attention to the selection criteria.

·       A short description of the proposed installation and how it responds to Galactic Glow.

·       Initial sketches, images, mood boards or examples of previous relevant work.

·       An outline budget, including artist fees, materials, fabrication, installation, technical support and maintenance.

·       A delivery timeline, including design, production, installation and removal.

·       Any access, safety, power, stewarding or technical requirements.

Submissions should be clearly titled Light Festival 2027 – St Andrews Quayside and emailed to: artsandculture@gravesham.gov.uk

Deadline: Midnight on Monday 21^st September 2026